callsigns
VIRGIN is a little unusual as whilst the callsign belongs to Virgin Atlantic it is also used by Virgin Blue domestically in Australia.
An agreement was apparently reached between the two airlines (which are both in the Virgin group but with quite different ownership and management structures) to share the callsign as long as Virgin Blue only use it within Australia. That was before Virgin Atlantic started flying to SYD but any confusion is minimal as flight numbers don't clash - presumably by arrangement.
That is also why Virgin Blue aircraft on regional flights outside Australia come under the Pacific Blue name with callsign BLUE BIRD (Pacific Blue is NZ based but a number of Oz based and registered aircraft fly in their colours as well).
Virgin Blue is shortly starting long haul 777 flights to the USA under the trading name V Australia - does anyone know what the callsign will be for those flights?